[01/04/11 - 09:56 AM]CBS Starts the New Year With a Monday Night SweepCBS spins the numbers for Monday, January 3.

[via press release from CBS]

CBS STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH A MONDAY NIGHT SWEEP

CBS Comedies Hit Ratings' Highs

"How I Met Your Mother," and "Rules of Engagement" Deliver Their Largest Audiences Since March While "Two and a Half Men" Scores Most Viewers Since May

"Mother" and "Rules" Match Season-High Adult 18-49 Ratings

CBS began the new year with a Monday sweep of viewers and key demographics that saw HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT deliver their largest audiences since March while TWO AND A HALF MEN scored its most viewers since May, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Jan. 4.

Additionally, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT matched season-high adult 18-49 ratings and MIKE & MOLLY posted its second-largest audience, all opposite the premiere of "The Bachelor."

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was first in households (6.3/10), viewers (10.37m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12), adults 18-49 (3.9/11) and adults 18-34 (3.2/11). HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER posted its best delivery in both households and viewers since March 1, 2010, its best in adults 25-54 since March 2, 2009, its best in adults 18-49 since Sept. 27, 2010, and its best in adults 18-34 since Nov. 22, 2010.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was first in viewers (9.91m), adults 25-54 (4.4/10), adults 18-49 (3.4/09) and tied for first in households (5.9/09, with ABC). RULES OF ENGAGEMENT posted its best delivery in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since March 8, 2010, and its best in adults 18-49 since Nov. 1, 2010.

TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in households (9.2/14), viewers (15.34m), adults 25-54 (6.2/14) and adults 18-49 (4.6/11). TWO AND A HALF MEN posted its best delivery in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since May 24, 2010 and in adults 18-49 since Nov. 1, 2010.